Nature experience area Elmpter Schwalmbruch

Located in the meadows of the River Schwalm, the 286-hectare nature reserve Elmpter Schwalmbruch stretches from the German-Dutch border in the west to Venekoten in the east. At its center lies a 65-hectare large bog, the only relic of the once very wide low moors in the Schwalm meadows. Typical here are bog myrtles with the fragrant bog myrtle shrub and wet heaths with delicate cotton grass and bog lily. They form the breeding grounds of the rare Bluethroats and water rails. Elmpter Schwalmbruch is one of the richest and nationally most important areas for amphibians and dragonflies along the border. In the transition to the drier areas of the area, we find the largest juniper heath of the left lower Rhine with 3.7 hectares. Here, moor sheep herds are often observed during heathland management. The heath is also a breeding ground for black redstarts and woodlarks and home to the smooth snake.